Craig Albernaz is officially the 21st manager in Orioles history.

Like his predecessors Brandon Hyde and Tony Mansolino, Albernaz does not have any big league managerial experience. He most recently sat as the associate manager for the Guardians, a role that he was promoted to after serving as Cleveland’s bench coach in 2024.

So without a track record as a manager to lean on and with about a week until we hear from Albernaz at his introductory press conference, we’re left with gathering bits and pieces of information where we can.

Let’s start with Albernaz’s previous coaching experience, which isn’t terribly expansive, given the fact that he was playing in the minor leagues as recently as 2014. 

His coaching career began just one year later with the Rays, the organization that he spent a majority of his minor league career with. After starting as a hitting coach, Albernaz got his first experience as a skipper in 2017, managing the Yankees’ High-A affiliate Hudson Valley Renegades and leading them to a Penn League championship. 

The Orioles today announced that CRAIG ALBERNAZ has been named the 21^st manager in club history. This will mark Albernaz’s first major league managerial assignment.

“We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the field,” said Orioles President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, MIKE ELIAS. “Craig has built an exemplary career across multiple successful organizations and brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge. We believe he is the right person at the right time to elevate our baseball operations and guide our team back to the playoffs and a World Series Championship.”

“I am deeply honored and humbled to join the storied Baltimore Orioles organization,” said Albernaz. “This is a tremendous honor, and I'm grateful to Mike Elias and the entire Orioles team for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this talented club.”

Albernaz, 42, begins his first managerial role following 11 seasons as a professional coach, and nine professional seasons as a player. Albernaz most recently spent two seasons as part of the Cleveland Guardians coaching staff, serving as the associate manager in 2025, a role he was promoted to after joining Cleveland’s staff as bench coach in 2024. The Guardians won the American League Central Division in both of his seasons in the organization, marking the first time the club won consecutive division titles since 2016-18 (three straight). In 2025, Cleveland won the AL Central on the final day after being 15.5 games behind Detroit on July 8, becoming the first team in MLB history to overcome a deficit that large to win a division (since 1969) or league (1900-68) in that season, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Last year, the Guardians finished 92-69 and advanced to the AL Championship Series.

Prior to joining the Guardians, he served as the bullpen and catching coach for the San Francisco Giants from 2020-23. Under his command, the Giants’ relief unit posted a 3.92 ERA in 2023, leading the majors in relief innings (705.1). In 2021, his relievers posted a 2.97 ERA (206 ER/623.2 IP), the lowest in the majors, while helping San Francisco win the National League West Division. From 2020-23, Giants catchers helped guide the pitching staff to a 3.80 ERA (2,045 ER/4,840.1 IP), third-best in the NL and sixth-best in MLB. Before heading west, Albernaz coached and managed in the Tampa Bay Rays organization from 2015-19, compiling a two-year managerial record of 145-83 (.636) at Short-Season A Hudson Valley (2017) and Class-A Bowling Green (2018), before serving as minor league field coordinator in 2019. Albernaz also managed Tampa Bay’s instructional league team in 2016. His coaching career began in 2015 as hitting coach at Rookie-level Princeton before holding the same role with Hudson Valley in 2016. He began the 2017 season with Triple-A Durham as third base and catching coach, before transitioning to Hudson Valley’s manager, leading the Renegades to a New York-Penn League Championship. The Bulls also won the International League that season. In 2018, Albernaz managed Bowling Green to the Midwest League Championship after winning a Minor League Baseball-best 90 games, a mark that earned him Midwest League Manager of the Year.

The hiring is official.

Craig Albernaz is the 21^st manager in Orioles history, with the announcement coming early this afternoon.

News broke late last night that the club was finalizing a deal with Albernaz, who spent the 2024 season as Guardians bench coach and 2025 as associate manager.

“We are elated to welcome Craig Albernaz as the next manager of the Orioles and our leader on the field,” president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. “Craig has built an exemplary career across multiple successful organizations and brings a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, and talent to our organization and to this new challenge. We believe he is the right person at the right time to elevate our baseball operations and guide our team back to the playoffs and a World Series championship.”

A big leap is required after the Orioles finished in last place this season with a 75-87 record following back-to-back playoff appearances.

PLAYER REVIEW: JOSE A. FERRER

Age on Opening Day 2026: 26

How acquired: Signed as international free agent, July 2017

MLB service time: 2 years, 94 days

2025 salary: $765,400

The only Orioles player moves this month were made last Monday when they signed left-handers Scarling Sterling and Christian Rojas to minor league contracts. The deals didn’t appear on the transactions page until the weekend.

Sterling was assigned to “Purple-South” in the MLB amateur scouting league in the Dominican Republic on May 5. That’s the extent of the results found in my research.

Meanwhile, Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz is going to be hired as the next manager, with an announcement likely to come later in the week. That will have to do.

The choice of Albernaz after a search that didn’t take a full month – the Orioles were serious about making a decision ASAP – provides an answer to the question of who’s following interim manager Tony Mansolino, whether he’d get the full-time job and whether experience was really important.

Among the questions I’ve posed in recent weeks, besides wondering about the manager, involve cramming five starters into the rotation, who bats first, who’s in center field, does Tyler O’Neill homer again on Opening Day, will some starters be on innings limits, what happens to Albert Suárez, and if any starters could move to the bullpen.

Any business conducted by the Orioles this month is mostly done behind closed doors with limited or no information available, especially interviews for the managerial position. The process was advancing, but very quietly.

It's almost finished. The secrecy has broken apart.

A source confirmed this afternoon that the Orioles interviewed Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz for the job and expected him to be hired. Multiple reports tonight have the Orioles finalizing a deal with Albernaz, who will inherit a team that went 75-87 and sat in the cellar of the American League East.

Albernaz will become the 21st manager in Orioles history, not counting interims, since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954. He was Cleveland's bench coach in 2024 before earning a promotion. The Massachusetts native was a finalist for the managing job that went to Stephen Vogt.

The Washington Post reported that Albernaz interviewed for the Nationals job within the last week. So did Brandon Hyde, hired by the Orioles in December 2018 and fired in May after back-to-back playoff appearances. Hyde was a two-time Sporting News Manager of the Year in the American League before the Orioles tumbled into last place this season.

PLAYER REVIEW: SHINNOSUKE OGASAWARA

Age on Opening Day 2026: 28

How acquired: Signed as international free agent, January 2025

MLB service time: 66 days

2025 salary: $1.5 million

The start of Dylan Beavers’ major league career couldn’t have gone much better. 

In his first three games, the outfielder had already collected four hits. After making his debut on the road, the 24-year-old put on a show in his first homestand, hitting .368 with a 1.162 OPS in seven games against the Astros and Red Sox. And by game 24, he had already walked 20 times, improving his on-base percentage to a staggering .460. 

But after hitting the ground running, Beavers’ pace was slowed. 

In the final 10 games of the season, the Cal product hit just .143 with 12 strikeouts and a .268 OBP. 

All in all, Beavers’ first 35 games had their fair share of ups and downs, as is to be expected with any rookie, especially in a small sample size. A .375 OBP is impressive, a .227 batting average less so, and a .775 OPS is just fine.

The World Series moves from Toronto to Los Angeles, and neutral fans should be hoping for a Game 7 because it’s the best thing in sports. Doesn’t matter whether we’re talking MLB, NBA or NHL. The drama is intoxicating.

Speaking of which, let’s raise a glass to Trey Mancini and Sara Perlman on the birth of their daughter Sadie Mila. Good things happening to good people.

I’ll drink to that.

I’d celebrate having some real news to report. Updates on the manager search are scarce. The Orioles operate quietly. Leaks so far have been just a few drips.

I’m flooded with more questions, so time to drain the mailbag again for the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

PLAYER REVIEW: ANDREW ALVAREZ

Age on Opening Day 2026: 26

How acquired: 12th-round pick, 2021 MLB Draft

MLB service time: 28 days

2025 salary: $760,000

The conversation surrounding Grayson Rodriguez was supposed to have a much different tone.

The Orioles made Rodriguez the 11^th overall selection in the 2018 draft and finally introduced him to the majors in 2023 after a lat injury the previous summer put his debut on hold. Another injury, this one to Kyle Bradish after being struck on the right foot by a comebacker, opened the door.

It’s slammed shut too many times.

There was a demotion after a May 26, 2023 start against the Rangers, when Rodriguez allowed nine runs, eight of them earned, and surrendered three homers in 3 1/3 innings to raise his ERA to 7.35. He returned in July, made 13 starts and posted a 2.58 ERA. Seven of those starts were quality, including his eight scoreless innings against the Rays on Sept. 16.

He held the Padres to one run in seven innings in San Diego, and the White Sox to one hit in six scoreless at Camden Yards. He looked like the anticipated ace, the No. 1 starter and No. 1 reason why Mike Elias said the cupboard wasn’t bare when the Orioles hired him as executive vice president/general manager.

The first few weeks of the offseason also exist so various outlets can begin ranking free agents and trying to match them with prospective teams.

MLB.com published its top 30 this week, headed by outfielder Kyle Tucker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. The Orioles have three free agents – pitchers Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano and catcher Gary Sánchez - and none made the rankings. Eflin was listed among the 11 honorable mentions, which also included Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn.

The Orioles are interested in obtaining at least one starting pitcher, which can be done via free agency or a trade, and multiple relievers. They can sift through some in-house options but have too many holes to fill to operate solely from within. They also will try to strengthen the lineup with a proven hitter, and the outfield seems like the only area with room.

The site lists the Orioles among “possible fits” for five of the 30 players: Starter Dylan Cease (10^th), closer Edwin Díaz (14^th), closer Robert Suarez (17^th), starter Jack Flaherty (22^nd) and starter Chris Bassitt (28^th). Diáz would have to opt out of the final two years of his contract. Suarez would have to decline his $8 million options for the next two seasons. Flaherty has a $20 million option in his contract, and he did nothing to impress the Orioles during his half-season in 2023.

Perhaps only three teams are allowed to be attached to each free agent. If the above names make sense for the Orioles, so do outfielder Cody Bellinger (No. 5), though a right-handed bat might fit better, starter/reliever Michael King (No. 8), left-handed starter Framber Valdez (No. 9), left-handed starter Ranger Suárez (No. 11), starter Zac Gallen (No. 18), starter Shane Bieber (No. 20), reliever Devin Williams (No. 21), reliever Ryan Heisley (No. 26) and starter Lucas Giolito (No. 29).

PLAYER REVIEW: MITCHELL PARKER

Age on Opening Day 2026: 26

How acquired: Fifth round pick, 2020 MLB Draft

MLB service time: 2 years

2025 salary: $767,200

The American League Silver Slugger finalists will be announced later this morning, with the winners revealed on Nov. 7. The Orioles were shut out in Rawlings Gold Glove nominations. Do they get blanked again today?

Outfielder Anthony Santander won a Silver Slugger last year. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg (utility) also were finalists but lost to Bobby Witt Jr. and Josh Smith, respectively.

Henderson won it as a utility player in 2023. Catcher Adley Rutschman also received the award.

Injuries and underproduction remove an obvious choice for the Orioles this year.

The Angels’ Zach Neto led AL shortstops with 26 home runs, followed by the Red Sox’s Trevor Story with 25 and Witt with 23. Story was first in RBIs with 96, followed by the Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette (18 homers) with 94 and Witt with 88. Witt slugged .501 and Bichette .483. Witt was first in hits with 184, followed by Bichette with 181, Story with 161 and Henderson with 158.

PLAYER REVIEW: CADE CAVALLI

Age on Opening Day 2026: 27

How acquired: First round pick, 2020 MLB Draft

MLB service time: 2 years, 141 days

2025 salary: $760,200

Despite his sluggish second half, James Wood’s total production this season still earned him recognition as one of the best hitters in baseball.

Wood today was named a finalist for the Silver Slugger Award, one of six National League outfielders in the running for the honor. Three winners will be named Nov. 6, along with the winners for each of the league’s other positions.

Joining Wood on the list of finalists are the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Mets’ Juan Soto, the Marlins’ Kyle Stowers and the Cubs’ Kyle Tucker.

Wood finished the season with 38 doubles, 31 home runs, 94 RBIs, a .256 batting average, .350 on-base percentage and .475 slugging percentage, plus 15 stolen bases. Among NL outfielders, the 23-year-old ranked in the top three in doubles, homers and extra-base hits.

It was a dynamic first half of the season, though, that put Wood in a position to finish with those numbers and earned him the first All-Star nod and Home Run Derby invitation of his young career. He entered the break with a .278/.381/.534 slash line, 24 homers and 69 RBIs, then slashed .223/.301/.388 with seven homers and 25 RBIs after that.

For the first time in his career, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood has been named one of six outfield finalists for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award on Wednesday.

A 2025 All-Star and Home Run Derby participant, Wood, 23, finished the season tied for the National League lead among outfielders with 38 doubles this season. He also ranked in extra base hits (3rd, 69), home runs (T3rd, 31), RBI (4th, 94), walks (5th, 95) and hits (5th, 153).

In his first full Major League season Wood also paced the National League with 56 balls hit over 110 miles per hour, trailing only Aaron Judge in all of Major League Baseball. Wood also led all National League outfielders with 15 home runs hit over 110 mph.

The Rockville, Md., native was one of just three Major Leaguers and one of two National League outfielders with 30 home runs, 35 doubles and 15 stolen bases this season. Wood became just the second Nationals player to hit 30 home runs and steal at least 15 bases in a season, joining Alfonso Soriano in 2006.

Wood looks to become the fourth Nationals outfielder and 11th Nationals player (2005-pres.) overall to win a Silver Slugger.

PLAYER REVIEW: BRAD LORD

Age on Opening Day 2026: 26

How acquired: 18th round pick, 2022 MLB Draft

MLB service time: 1 year

2025 salary: $760,000

The Blue Jays finished in last place in 2024 and are headed to the World Series. They were the top seed in the American League, just like the Orioles in 2023.

The Orioles slipped to the top Wild Card the following year and all the way into the division basement this summer. They won 75 games, one more than Toronto in 2024.

Should parallels be paraded to fans praying for a prolific bounce back next season?

Payroll disparities can’t be ignored – the Blue Jays at almost $242 million on Opening Day and the Orioles at around $164 million.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed an extension in April for $500 million over 14 years and he was named Most Valuable Player in the Championship Series. George Springer signed a six-year, $150 million free-agent contract in January 2021 and his three-run homer in the seventh inning in Game 7 propelled the Blue Jays into the World Series.

PLAYER REVIEW: JAKE IRVIN

Age on Opening Day 2026: 29

How acquired: Fourth round pick, 2018 MLB Draft

MLB service time: 2 years, 152 days

2025 salary: $774,600